The Sharks XV will take on the Cheetahs Vodacom Cup team in the curtain raiser to today’s Super 14 clash in Durban. Louis Ludik will start at fullback in a strong Sharks XV outfit.Since there’s been no official announcement, I’ve needed to use my contacts within the squad to try and piece together the starting 15. I think I have it right, but there might be a few positions that aren’t 100% accurate.

Pat Cilliers will captain the team from loosehead prop, with Baby Boks Kyle Cooper (hooker) and Wiehahn Herbst (tighthead) joining him in the front row. The settled combination of Jandre Marais and Anton Bresler continue in the second row, with Justin Downey, Lambert Groewald and Luvo Lusaseni making up the loose trio.

Ross Cronjé will be at scumhalf, with a certain Jacques Venter picked as his partner. This may well be the same Venter who up until recently was playing Varsity Cup rugby for the TUT Vikings. Jean Stemmet and Jerome Pretorius are the centers, with Rosco Speckman and Mark Richards, both of whom played for the under 21s last year, joining Ludik in the back 3.

Expect to see wholesale changes in the second half, though, as there’s a big squad and coach Sean Everitt will want to give everyone a run.

@robdylan (Comment 8) : Please let that just be a silly rumour. The guy has talent, but as FTL said he should be blooded through the system. As a previous poster noted, we all saw what happened to Gaffie.

Comment 14, posted at 19.02.10 14:19:21 by rhineshark

So I take it Ludik is 100% then and this is just to get him back into action, he should then go on tour also…so we’re getting some depth at full back….very good

Now I can’t read the rest of the blog, because I’m sure more of you will comment on that.

That’s pretty cool though, I like that one of the weaker teams are starting to show their stuff and even more glad that it’s against the crusaders. I’m tired of crusaders dominance. I hope they loose a lot more games this year…go reds.

Comment 58, posted at 19.02.10 18:01:11 by Letgo

So…?

Comment 59, posted at 19.02.10 19:46:00 by Letgo

Left the Lions to become a Vodacom cup player? Hmmmm

Comment 60, posted at 20.02.10 11:23:31 by Hmmm

Why do I have 5 stars under my name?

Comment 61, posted at 20.02.10 11:24:16 by Hmmm

An Rob has 3 silver stars….lol

Comment 62, posted at 20.02.10 11:25:19 by Hmmm

Oh I see now there is like a points system…
It seems post earn you a lot of points…
Well it seems the you up and coming CC players are catching up to me with some speed…seems I might get demoted during the S14…lol
Are there vodacom up players as well?